Apparatus for cleaning and conditioning fabrics



M. F. FLYNN Aug, 30, 1932, APPARATUS FOR CLEANYING AND CONDITIONINGFABRICS Re. 18,583

Original Filed April 26 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet M. F. FLYNN A 30, 1931APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND CONDITIONING FABRICS Re. 18,583

1928 2 Sheets-Sheet F ENTOR,

' ATTORNEY,

Reiasued Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES- ATE OFFICE MORT MER-r. FLYNN, onGRANT CITY, NEw YORK APPARATUS ros; CLEAN NG AND CONDITIONING FABRICSOriginal application iiled April 26, 1928, Serial 110.272967. RenewedJuly 1931, Original No. 1347,87!)

' dated March 1, I932. Application for reissue filed June 30, 1932,Serial No. 620,218,

I The invention relates to apparatus for cleaning and conditioningfabrics such as carpets, rugs, blankets, etc. 7 7 t z I Moreparticularly it relates to combined means for opening, raising orstraightening the pile of pile fabrics or raising or renew ing the napof other fabrics, and at the same time freeing or renderingmoreaccessible dust and dirt therein, and thereupon extract- 1o ing the dustor dirt by vacuum treatment, the efliciency of which is greatlyincreased by the conditioning operation.

To these ends, the invention comprises, as broadly described, vacuumcleaning mecha- 16 nism including an exhaust blower and suction nozzleand usually provided with means such as wheels for traversing it overthefabric such as a rug or carpet, and napping or pile raising mechanismincludinga roll having 20 metallic, burred napping or pile raisingbristles and arranged in relation to' the-suction-nozzle so that whenthe latter is traversed over the fabric,the bristles first act upon thefabric to open up its weft or woof, or to raise,

2 straightenand open'the pile of the fabric, and at the same time;loosen any embedded or matted extraneous mattersuch as dust or dirt,whereupon the draft of air entering the suction nozzle more eflicientlytakes up and removes such extraneous material.

In preferred forms of the invention, a bristle-aligning or straighteningbar is provided and this is also desirably arranged as sharpening meansto sharpen orrenew the bristle burrs. The napping cylinder is alsodesirably movably supported inrelation to the head or suction nozzle ofthe vacuum mechanism,and provided with meansacting automatically tolower the cylinder to active 40 position when the apparatus is advancedupon the fabric and to retract or raise. the cylinder to a non-operativeposition when the apparatus is retracted. 1 V p I also provide novel andimproved means for continuously cleaning the napping cylinder (orbristles), such means including in a preferred example a cleaner'or combwhich removes extraneous matter from the bristles, and a stripper actingat frequent intervals to clean the comb.

'The invention is capable of physical em-' bodiment as a'completemachine, or it may be embodied by applying to or combining with a vacuumcleaner of any known, standvsons will understand that many variationsmay be made without'departing from the principles disclosed, and Icontemplate the employment of any structures that are properly withinthe scope of the appended claims. Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofapparatus embodying the inventionin one form.

Fig. 2' is'a section in a longitudinal plane of the apparatus. a

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing a different position of the parts. I

Fig. 4 is a half plan view of the machine with someparts broken away.

Fig. 5 is'a sectional detail on 5-5, of Fig. 4.

In the present particular example, the con= ditionin'g mechanism is'combined with or applied to a vacuum cleaner V of known or or handleshaft 6 is also connected to the a principal feature the napping orconditioning roll 15 revolubly mounted in advance of the suction headand also preferably arranged for vertical movement under control of theadvancing and retracting movements of the apparatus. I may employ anysuitable fabric conditioning or napping roll'or cylinder such as thevarious devices of this class of my invention. In the present example,the roll'structure includes-"a coreor shaft 16, the ends of which arerevolubly mounted in bearings in side plates or brackets 17. Thebrackets are pivotally connected.

at 18 to the forward ends of arms 19", and these arms are fixedlyconnected by screws or studs 20 to the arms .9. of the. vacuum apparatus. Rearward edges of the brackets 17 are provided with shouldersor stops 21v and 22 co-operating with pins 23fixed in arms l9 to limitthe upward and downward swinging movements of the brackets and the-con-,ditioning roll which they support. The

swinging frame or mechanism including the bracketsandthe conditioningroll are supported and controlled by wheels 24 revolublyl mounted onstub shaft 25 and secured thereon by screws 26. Theinner ends of thestub shafts arelsecured; in brackets 17 as at 27, Fig. 5, and frictionmeans is provided such asthe spring washers 28 locatedbetween-thebrackets and-the -wheels, tending to retard the rotationofthe wheels in relation to the brackets and by this frictional reactionupon.

the brackets, the frame is caused to rotate counterclockwise as viewedin. Fig. 2 and bring the bristles of the conditioning roll in contactwith the fabric andmaintain them firmly in propercontact, duringadvancing movement of the apparatus;an'd when the apparatus is retractedor moved to ther ght as viewed in Fig. 3, the frictional drag actingupon the brackets raises the-frame and roll 16 clear of the fabric andmaintains them in this position until the apparatus isagain 1 advancedfor a cleaning action.

Means may be provided such as. a stop 30 slidably mounted on one of thearms 19 and engageable above the shoulder member 2l, to maintain theswinging frame and roll in upward, inactive position while the apparatusis not in use.

The body 16 of the conditioning roll lsprovided with a multiplicity ofuniformly ar- 2. At the end of each bristle is a tooth or burr 36, thesebeing directed approximately at a right angle to the lower portion ofthe bristles and also directed forwardly in relation to their activecontact with the fabric; that is the burrs project'to the left aheadoftheir respective bristles as they engage the fabric F when theapparatus is advanced in the opposite direction. Means is; provided forpositioning or straightening the bristles, such means consisting in thisexample of a transverse bar face, which restores ,or sharpens the burrformations and. at the same time properly alignsor positions suchbristles. ,Any to the bristles which might'be caused by reverse rotationof the roll is prevented by the automatic roll elevating action when theapparatus :is moved reversely,;as sulficiently explained above. q 'Aguard ll-is desirably placed above and about the rollto-preventimproper:contact of-the bristles withother objects, this'guardbeing in the form of a part-cylindrical,per'- forated metal sheetsecured in screws 38 or 39. f I

I I also preferably provide cleaning means for keeping thebristles'continually clear of dust, dirt" or other extraneous matter,removed from the fabric. sistsin the present example of a comb in'clud--ingteeth 45 secur'e'dat regularly spaced intervals in a cross-bar 46supported'by arms 47 fixedly-secured to arms 19*as by screws 48; Theforwardends of the teeth, between which the bristles pass are preferablybent slightly downward as at 50 to more effectively scrape from thebristles the extraneous matter thereon, somefof'which will drop to thefabric surface for subsequent removal by theair draft. Some of thismaterial will however accumulate inthe *comband to periodically removesuch material from the comb I provide'a stripper consisting of "across-bar 51 having laterally bent ends 52 rigidly secured to brackets.17 and having on its lower face teeth 53 interfitting with the teeth" ofthe comb. Whenever ,the frame including bracket'17 is elevated inaretractiveinovementof; the apparatus,-the stripper teeth 53 are movedupward or to the left. in relation to thecomb teeth as viewed in Fig. 2,the

position shown-in Fig. 3, where the stripper teeth are entirely clear ofthe comb and in in ury 1 position'by the Such means consuch movement thecomb is cleared of ex traneous material.

In operation, the motor of the vacuum ap paratus is put into operationas usual, and the apparatus is pushed to the left over the fabric suchas a rug 'or carpet, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. At thebeginning of this movement, the napping roll is automatically loweredand held in proper firm contact with the fabric in the manner aboveexplained. The roll. then rotates counter clockwise with resistance tosuch rotation provided by the bar 37 in-contact with the upwardbristles, and the lower bristles enter into the pile of the fabric andengage the weft threads thereof and as the bristles rise out of contactwith the fabric they properly separate, elevate and restore the pile toits proper upright position and at the same time loosen or practicallypick from the fabric any embedded or encrusted foreign material; andimmediately thereafter the suction head passing over the conditionedsurface removes the dust and dirt therefrom with greatly increasedefiiciency due to the fabric conditioning and dirt loosening action ofthe roll 16.

During such movement the teeth or burrs 36 are continually renewed orsharpened by the abrasive surface of bar 37 and the comb 46 alsocontinually cleans the bristles as above described. At the beginning ofreverse movement of the apparatus the roll is automatically elevated andremains in elevated position free from contact with the fabric until thebeginning of the next advance movement of the apparatus. In theelevating movement of the roll, the comb is stripped or cleaned as alsoabove explained.

My invention provides for positively and mechanically separating,raising, straightening and restoring the pile without removing anysubstantial part of it or causing any injury to the fabric and in fact,the condition of rugs and carpets is'materially. improved while thenatural. pile surface is being effectively restored and at the same timethe fabric surface is placed in proper condition for the effectiveextractiontherefrom of dust and dirt by the vacuum draft.

The apparatus is also valuable for cleaning and restoring the nap ofsuch fabrics as blankets, and it may also be embodied in or applied tovacuum cleaning apparatus of other types, such as small hand devices andin such cases may be used effectively for clean ing and re-nappinggarments, etc.

It will be observed from the provision of means of my aforesaidinvention, that any depressed portion of the pile of a carpet or the napof fabric in general is restored to its predetermined normal heightabove the warp and woof woven structure of the same, and

similarly in the event of worn of? portions of the pile or the nap, thebristles of the napping roll serve to re-create the pile or the nap bytheaction of the burred endsof the bristles on the warp and woofstrands. Such restoration and renewal actions are definitely controlledby the predetermined factors ofthe construction of the bristles andtheir burred ends, and in particular the definite heightto which thedepressed portions and the renewed portions of the pile or napareraisedabove the warp and woofstructure of the carpet orother fabric.1 I

"Whereas I have described my invention'by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spiritof the invention. I i

I claim: l

1. In'combination with vacuum cleaning apparatus, a fabric conditioningroll arranged to contact with a fabric in advance of the vac uum suctionnozzle in the active direction of movement and comprising a multiplicityof burred bristles engaging the fabric to'o'pen and restore the surfacestructure thereof and increase the effectiveness'of the vacuum action. l

2. combination with vacuum'cleaning apparatus including a suction headhaving a nozzle, a fabric conditioning roll revolubly mounted inrelation to said apparatus. said roll including a multiplicity of burredbris-' tles, and means actuated by movementof the apparatus in oppositedirections to lower the roll to contact with a supporting fabric and toraise the roll from contact therewith.

3. In combination with vacuum cleaning apparatus including a. suctionhead h aving'a' nozzleadjacent a supporting surface, a fabricconditioning mechanism including a conditioning roll revolubly mountedin advance 'of said head and also supported for vertical movement, meansacting in one direction of movement of the apparatus to'lower'the conditi oning roll into engagement with the fabric and in the otherdirection to elevate the roll free from the fabric, said rolllowering-and elevating means includingsupporting wheels for saidconditioning roll, the conditioning roll being provided with a pluralityof burred bristles, and a bar in contact'with the bristles serving as aroll retarder. i

4. In combination with the suction head of vacuum cleaning apparatus,brackets pivotally mounted in relation to said head, a conditioning rollrevolubly mounted in the brackets, wheels carried by the brackets, andmeans actuated by rotation of said wheels in opposite directions tooscillate the brackets and move the roll upward and downward in relationto a supporting surface.

5. In combination with the suction head of vacuum cleaning apparatus,brackets pivopposite directions to oscillate the brackets and-move theroll upward anddownward in relationto a supporting surface, theconditioning roll having a multiplicity of burred bristles. Y i

=6. In combination with the suction head of vacuum cleaning apparatus,brackets piv-- otally mounted in relation to said head, a conditioningroll revolubly mounted in the brackets, wheels carried by the brackets,

' means actuated 'by'rotation of said wheels in store the surfacestructure thereof and increase the effectiveness of the cleaning action.

8. In combination with cleaning apparatus, a head, brackets pivotallymounted in relation to said head, a conditioning roll revolublymounted'in the brackets, wheels carried by the brackets, and meansactuated by rotation of said wheels in opposite directions to oscillatethe brackets and move the-roll upward and downward in relation to asupport- 1 ing surface.

l V 9. In combination with cleaning apparatus, ahead, brackets pivotallymounted in relation to'said head, a conditioning roll revolubly mountedin the brackets, wheels carried by the brackets, and means actuated byit I rotation of said wheels in opposite directions I to oscillate thebrackets and move the roll upwardand downward in relation to asupporting surface, the conditioning roll having a multiplicity ofburred bristles.

10. In combination with cleaning apparatus, a head, brackets pivotallymounted in relation to said head, a conditioning roll revolubly mountedin the brackets, wheels carried by the brackets, meansactuated byrotation of said wheels in oppositedirections to oscillate the bracketsand move the roll upward and downward in relation to a supportingsurface, and means'for releasably retainingtheroll in upward position.

I testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 22d day ofJune, 1932.

MORTIMER F. FLY-NN.

